Dispensing system for powdered treating agent for use in a washing machine

ABSTRACT

A dispensing system for powdered treating agent for use in a washing machine. The dispensing system includes at least one supply container with a fill opening for the powdered treating agent, an agitator having a vertical rotatable shaft and blades or vanes configured to be rotated by the rotatable shaft, and a contact protection grill configured to cover the fill opening so as to prevent contact with the agitator. The agitator is drivable by an electrical drive. The contact protection grill is connected to the rotatable shaft so as to form an inseparable unit with the agitator

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Priority is claimed to German patent application DE 10 2007 048 196.0,filed Oct. 8, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD

The present invention relates to a dispensing system for powderedtreating agent for use in a washing machine.

BACKGROUND

In washing machines for domestic use, the detergent is usually manuallyintroduced into a chamber which is flushed with water and introducedinto the suds container after the wash cycle has started. The user mustobserve the dosage instructions for the particular detergent used, andtake care to fill the correct amount into the chamber. To facilitatecharging with detergent or other additives, automatic dispensing systemsin which a relatively large amount of detergent is stored in a supplycontainer can be used. Once a wash cycle is started, the preset amountof detergent will then be added to the wash liquid, which eliminates theneed for the user to ensure that the proper amount of detergent isfilled in each time a wash cycle is carried out. Such dispensing systemsare frequently used especially in industrial washing machines.

A dispensing system for powdered detergent is described in EP 0 297 371B1 and WO 03/023120 A1. The washing powder is released from a supplycontainer into a mixing chamber, from where it is delivered to thewashing machine. An agitator having a plurality of rotating blades orvanes agitates the powder within the container, causing it to flowthrough an opening into a mixing chamber or mixing channel locatedtherebelow. Once the desired amount has been introduced into the mixingchamber, the mixing chamber is flushed with water, the outflowingdetergent/water mixture being directed through a conduit to the washingmachine. When refilling the supply container, there is a risk of contactwith the sharp-edged blades. There is also a potential for inadvertentlyreaching into the container while the agitator is rotating.

German document DE 93 03 690 U1 describes a dispensing system in whichthe predetermined amount of detergent is filled from a supply containerinto a drawer-like receptacle. The bottom of the container has anopening formed therein, downstream of which is located a compartmentedwheel having a horizontal rotating shaft. When rotating thecompartmented wheel, powder is released from the supply containerthrough the opening thereof into one compartment at any one time, saidone compartment moving downward as the compartment shaft rotatesfurther, and subsequently releasing the powder into the receptaclethrough an opening located below the compartmented wheel. Thecompartments each receive a predetermined amount of powder, so that themetering is via the number of compartments that are emptied into thereceptacle. Here too, the opening and the rotating compartmented wheelare accessible to the user.

German document DE 102 34 316 B4 describes a mixing device which isprovided with a grille and can be reliably turned off by alever-operated switch. The switch is connected to the grille in such away that power supply to the electrically operated mixer is enabled onlywhen the grille is closed.

SUMMARY

In view of the above, an aspect of the present invention is to provide adispensing system where the risk of injury is reduced in a simplemanner.

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a dispensing system forpowdered treating agent for use in a washing machine. The dispensingsystem includes at least one supply container with a fill opening forthe powdered treating agent, an agitator having a vertical rotatableshaft and blades or vanes configured to be rotated by the rotatableshaft, and a contact protection grill configured to cover the fillopening so as to prevent contact with the agitator. The agitator isdrivable by an electrical drive. The contact protection grill isconnected to the rotatable shaft so as to form an inseparable unit withthe agitator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described inmore detail below and is schematically shown in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the dispensing system connected to awashing machine;

FIG. 2 is a detail view of the dispensing system; and

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are isolated views of a container from the dispensingsystem.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a dispensing system for powderedtreating agent for use in a washing machine, the dispensing systemincluding at least one supply container having a filling opening fortreating agents, such as detergent or washing or rinse additives, andfurther having an agitator with rotating blades or vanes, said agitatorbeing rotatable by means of a vertical rotating shaft and being coupledto and drivable by an electrical drive.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the interior of the containeris prevented from being accessed when the agitator is activatable. Thisis achieved in a simple manner using a contact protection grille tocover the filling opening, i.e., the upper, open end of the container,thereby preventing contact with the agitator. The moving blades or othersharp-edged parts of the agitator are located near the bottom of thecontainer. The contact protection grille covers the filling opening,which is located at the opposite end, i.e., at the top end of thecontainer. Consequently, the agitator and the blades thereof are locatedat a distance from the contact protection grille, so that contact is atleast nearly impossible. The contact protection grille is so coarse thatit does not impede the treating agent filling process. All positions aredescribed relative to the dispensing system in its normal position ofuse.

In an embodiment, the lower end of the rotating shaft of the agitator issupported on the container bottom, while the upper end thereof issupported in the contact protection grille. This provides forparticularly stable support.

In an embodiment, the contact protection grille is connected to therotating shaft such that the agitator and the contact protection grilletogether form an inseparable unit. This allows the agitator and thecontact protection grille to be removed together from the supplycontainer, thus facilitating the cleaning of the interior of thecontainer and of the blades. This also ensures that the interior of thecontainer is accessible only when the agitator, and thus the sharp-edgedblades or vanes, are no longer located within the container. Moreover,it is impossible to inadvertently activate the agitator, which allowsthe user to reach into the container without risk of injury.

In another embodiment, the dispensing system includes a base unit onwhich the supply container is removably placed and secured, along withthe agitator, the electrical drive being disposed within the base unit.This allows the container to be easily removed for easy filling orcleaning, while allowing the base unit to remain in its installedposition.

In one suitable embodiment, the electrical drive includes an electricmotor which is provided with a gear mechanism to form a gear motor, acoupling being attached to the gear output to provide for detachableconnection to the agitator. The gear mechanism is coupled to theelectric motor or formed as a unit therewith to provide a higher torqueat the output of the gear mechanism. Thus, the motor can be ofrelatively low power and small size while still providing the torquerequired for breaking up and moving lumps of powder.

In an embodiment, the dispensing system includes two supply containerswhich are each provided with an agitator and an electrical drive for theagitator. The electrical drives for the agitators can be controlledindividually, allowing the suitable treating agent to be selectedautomatically according to the wash cycle or the programmed sequence ofwashing steps.

Furthermore, the supply containers can be inserted and secured in thebase unit in the manner of a bayonet or a threaded connection. Thus, thesupply containers are fixedly and nonrotatably mounted in the base unit,and thereby prevented from becoming detached as the agitator rotates. Onthe other hand, the user can easily detach and remove the containersfrom the base unit.

In an embodiment, the contact protection grille includes a plurality ofconcentric annular rings which are joined by radial spokes. Thisprovides stable support for the rotating shaft. The annular rings andthe spokes are thin in relation to the spaces therebetween in order notto substantially impede the powdered treating agent filling process.

Referring to FIG. 1, the illustrated washing machine 1 includes a sudscontainer 2 in which is rotatably mounted a drum 3 which is driven by anelectric motor. Dispensing system 18 is located outside washing machine1 and connected thereto via connecting hoses 15, 16. The additives usedmay be, for example, detergents, washing additives or rinse additives.Dispensing system 18, which is separate from washing machine 1, may beplaced and secured at different locations, as desired. Depending on theinstallation conditions of washing machine 1, the dispensing system maybe placed or secured, for example, on housing 4 of washing machine 1,laterally adjacent thereto, or behind it. Washing machine 1 furtherincludes a dispensing drawer 6 which may include a detergent compartment9 for receiving the detergent for a wash cycle and which is connected tosuds container 2 via a flexible tube 8. Dispensing drawer 6 is incommunication with a water feed line 12, with a solenoid valve 10 and/ora water distributor 11 interposed therebetween, and allows detergent fora single wash cycle to be flushed into suds container 2 when dispensingsystem 18 is not used. Solenoid valve 10 and/or water distributor 11 arecontrolled by controller 7 of washing machine 1.

In order for detergent to be added from external dispensing system 18,water is supplied thereto via supply hose 15. The detergent/watermixture, i.e. the concentrated detergent solution, is delivered towashing machine 1 through detergent solution conduit 16; the rear wall 5of washing machine 1 being provided with a connection 13a for couplingmember 13b of water conduit 15 and with a connection 14a for couplingmember 14b of detergent solution conduit 16. The detergent solutionconduit 16a extending within the washing machine opens into flexibletube 8 on suds container 2. Solenoid valve 10, water distributor 11, anddispensing system 18 are controlled by controller 7 of washing machine1, said controller also controlling the wash cycle sequence. Dispensingsystem 18 is operatively connected to controller 7 via signal connection40. The dispensing system 18 of this embodiment includes a base unit 19and two containers 20, 21 for powdered or granular detergent or treatingagent.

FIG. 2 shows a detail view of an embodiment of dispensing system 18which includes two supply containers. The containers 20, 21 for powderedtreating agent are placed on base unit 19. Connecting hoses 15, 16extend out of base unit 19 and are provided at their free ends withcoupling members 13b, 14b, which are inserted and attached to theircorresponding connections 13 a, 13 b (FIG. 1) provided on washingmachine 1. Containers 20, 21 are each provided with a removable cover20D, 21D to prevent the treating agents in containers 20, 21 from beingcontaminated and from absorbing moisture.

In FIG. 3, container 20 is shown by itself. Filling opening 28 islocated at the top end and is covered by contact protection grille 27.Contact protection grille 27 includes, at its center, the bearing 26 forrotating shaft 34. A plurality of concentric annular rings 29 arearranged around bearing 26, and are joined by radial spokes 30. Annularrings 29 and spokes 30 are thinner than spaces 3 1, so that powderedtreating agent can be filled in without being impeded, or substantiallyimpeded, by contact protection grille 27.

FIG. 4 is a view showing container 20 in a removed condition, looking atthe underside thereof. The bearing 25 for shaft 34 of agitator 24 isprovided in the central region of bottom 22. A cylindrical chamber 17 isprovided between shaft 34 and the outer edge of bottom 22 and hassupported therein a compartmented wheel 17 a for metering preciseamounts of the powdered treating agent. Compartmented wheel 17 a isdriven by cams or dogs which are attached to rotating shaft 34.Furthermore, a coupling element 35 is mounted on rotating shaft 34 ofagitator 24 by a screw 33 a, said coupling element engaging with amating coupling element on the electrical drive as container 20 isinserted into base unit 19. Container 20 has formations 32 provided onits shell in the lower region thereof, said formations allowingattachment to mating means on base unit 19 in the manner of a bayonet(FIG. 2). After loosening coupling element 35, rotating shaft 34 can bewithdrawn from bearing 25 in bottom 22 of container 20, allowingagitator 24 to be removed from container 20. Chamber 17 is screwed tothe underside of container bottom 22 by screws 33 b, 33 c, so that itcan be removed and cleaned after loosening said screws 33 b, 33 c. Afterremoval of chamber 17, compartmented wheel 17 a is also accessible, forexample for cleaning purposes.

FIG. 5 shows a situation where rotating shaft 34 has been detached. Itcan be seen that the upper end of the rotating shaft is inseparablysupported in bearing 26 of contact protection grille 27. Bearing 26 isconnected to the outer annular ring 29 a via spokes 30, thereby allowingit to be secured to the edge 28 a of filling opening 28. Agitator 24with its rotating blades 23 and contact protection grille 27 can only bejointly removed from container 20, so that no disturbing or dangerousparts will be present inside the container when cleaning it.

The present invention has been described herein based on one or moreexemplary embodiments, but is not limited thereto. Reference should behad to the appended claims.

1. A dispensing system for powdered treating agent for use in a washingmachine, the dispensing system comprising: at least one supply containerincluding a fill opening for the powdered treating agent; an agitatorhaving a vertical rotatable shaft and blades or vanes configured to berotated by the rotatable shaft, the agitator being drivable by anelectrical drive; and a contact protection grill configured to cover thefill opening so as to prevent contact with the agitator, the contactprotection grill being connected to the rotatable shaft so as to form aninseparable unit with the agitator.
 2. The dispensing system as recitedin claim 1 wherein the powdered treating agent includes at least one ofdetergent, washing additive and rinsing additive.
 3. The dispensingsystem as recited in claim 1 wherein a lower end of the rotatable shaftis supportable on a bottom of the at least one supply container and anupper end of the rotating shaft is supported in the contact protectiongrille.
 4. The dispensing system as recited in claim 1 wherein theagitator and contact protection grill are removable together from thesupply container.
 5. The dispensing system as recited in claim 3 whereinthe agitator and contact protection grill are removable together fromthe supply container.
 6. The dispensing system as recited in claim 1wherein the dispensing system further comprises a base unit, the atleast one supply container and agitator being removably disposable andsecurable thereon, and wherein the electrical drive is disposed in thebase unit.
 7. The dispensing system as recited in claim 3 wherein thedispensing system further comprises a base unit, the at least one supplycontainer and agitator are removably disposable and securable thereon,and wherein the electrical drive is disposed in the base unit.
 8. Thedispensing system as recited in claim 4 wherein the dispensing systemfurther comprises a base unit, the at least one supply container andagitator are removably disposable and securable thereon, and wherein theelectrical drive is disposed in the base unit.
 9. The dispensing systemas recited in claim 4 wherein the electrical drive includes a gear motorhaving an electric motor and a gear mechanism, and wherein a coupling isattached to a gear output of the gear motor so as to provide detachableconnection to the agitator.
 10. The dispensing system as recited inclaim 5 wherein the electrical drive includes a gear motor having anelectric motor and a gear mechanism, and wherein a coupling is attachedto a gear output of the gear motor so as to provide detachableconnection to the agitator.
 11. The dispensing system as recited inclaim 6 wherein the electrical drive includes a gear motor having anelectric motor and a gear mechanism, and wherein a coupling is attachedto a gear output of the gear motor so as to provide detachableconnection to the agitator.
 12. The dispensing system as recited inclaim 7 wherein the electrical drive includes a gear motor having anelectric motor and a gear mechanism, and wherein a coupling is attachedto a gear output of the gear motor so as to provide detachableconnection to the agitator.
 13. The dispensing system as recited inclaim 8 wherein the electrical drive includes a gear motor having anelectric motor and a gear mechanism, and wherein a coupling is attachedto a gear output of the gear motor so as to provide detachableconnection to the agitator.
 14. The dispensing system as recited inclaim 9 wherein the at least one supply container includes a first and asecond supply container, the agitator being associated with the firstsupply container and further comprising a second agitator and a secondelectrical drive associated with the second supply container, whereinthe agitator and the second agitator are individually controllable. 15.The dispensing system as recited in claim 6 wherein the base unit and atleast one supply container include respective portions of a bayonetconnection configured to insert and secure the at least one supplycontainer on the base unit.
 16. The dispensing system as recited inclaim 6 wherein the base unit and at least one supply container includerespective portions of a threaded connection configured to insert andsecure the at least one supply container on the base unit.
 17. Thedispensing system as recited in claim 1 wherein the contact protectiongrill includes a plurality of concentric annular rings joined by radialspokes.